25. Spencer Dinwiddie — Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers receive: G Spencer Dinwiddie
Brooklyn Nets receive: F Kyle Kuzma, G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, F Talen Horton-Tucker
The Nets struck gold on Dinwiddie after the former second-round pick out of Colorado endured failed stints with the Pistons and Bulls. Dinwiddie exhibits all the fixings of a ball-dominant guard — great size, good handle, and the ability to knock down step-back jumpers. Kyrie Irving’s arrival to Brooklyn has stifled Dinwiddie’s playing time a bit, and he could be on the move sooner rather than later.
Dinwiddie has made some interesting business decisions over the past couple of years. He attempted to sell shares of his contract to fans, but was shut down quickly by the league. Recently he’s attempted to crowd-fund his next contract while allowing donators to dictate where he will sign his next contract. Though he remains far away from his goal ($24 million) at this current juncture, it will be intriguing to see how his plan unfolds.
If there were any group of fans that could pony up the cash, the rabid Laker fan base could potentially be of service. The Lakers could sorely use a secondary playmaker alongside LeBron James, and Dinwiddie’s length and ability to attack the basket would fit in well in Los Angeles.
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24. Bradley Beal — Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets receive: G Bradley Beal
Washington Wizards receive: G Spencer Dinwiddie, C DeAndre Jordan, G Garrett Temple, Nets 2022 First-Round Pick
With the Wizards stuck in mediocrity — at best — and the Nets in need of making the most of the Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving era, this trade makes sense for both teams. Brooklyn won’t be the only team vying for Beal’s services, as the sharp-shooter is an ideal fit for numerous contenders. However, few teams have both the assets and determination to make a trade happen.
Putting Beal alongside Durant and Irving would instantly propel Brooklyn into championship contention. One of the best shooters in the league, Beal would give the Nets a third dynamic scorer who is capable of creating his own shot. Brooklyn’s ability to spread the floor would terrorize the East. Dinwiddie and a future first-round pick would be the best part of Washington’s return, and Jordan would provide decent production while the Wiz continue their rebuild.
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23. Rudy Gobert — Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics receive: C Rudy Gobert
Utah Jazz receive: G Marcus Smart, G Romeo Langford, F Grant Williams, C Daniel Theis
The Jazz have made it quite clear that they harbor no ill-will towards their center Rudy Gobert — who was part of the first batch of NBA players who tested positive for Covid-19 back in March. At the time, Gobert’s lackadaisical attitude towards the virus rubbed some people the wrong way, but since receiving his test results the French center has been nothing but apologetic and understanding of the situation.
Though he has attempted to make amends, the Jazz could always look to shop their star center — particularly given his shaky history in the postseason. Interestingly enough, a Gobert-for-Hayward swap which would see Gordon returning to Utah works out financially — though we aren’t sure how keen the Jazz would be to such a deal. Boston had solid contributions from their center rotation last year, but Gobert is a clear upgrade over the Theis-Kanter-Williams troika. He also doesn’t harm Boston’s timeline seeing that he’s just turned 28 years old.
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22. James Harden — Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls receive: G James Harden, Rockets 2020 Second-Round Pick
Houston Rockets receive: G Zach LaVine, G Coby White, F Lauri Markkanen, F Cristiano Felicio
Okay, the likelihood of this ever happening is less than 1-percent — probably zero. But let’s entertain the thought for just a second. James Harden and the Rockets (to this point) have consistently come up short in the postseason. The team has reached the playoffs seven years in a row, advancing as far as the Western Conference Finals on two occasions. So what happens if the team falls short an eighth time?
Harden and Houston’s higher-ups may grow impatient. The team has surrounded Harden with high-end talent — Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook — and it hasn’t produced a Finals appearance thus far. If both Harden and the team want a fresh start, a trade with Chicago could make sense. The Bulls would love to have a superstar of Harden’s caliber. Houston could replace most of Harden’s offensive production with a LaVine/White backcourt. The addition of a third lottery pick (Markkanen) may seem like a lot, but you have to pay a price in order to secure an MVP.
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21. Donovan Mitchell — New York Knicks
New York Knicks receive: G Donovan Mitchell, F Joe Ingles
Utah Jazz receive: G R.J. Barrett, F Kevin Knox, Knicks 2020 First-Round Pick, Knicks 2022 First-Round Pick
Well, if Gobert isn’t shipped out of Utah, maybe their 23-year-old All-Star guard is? Utah can’t really benefit from shipping out Mitchell, who has been a revelation for the Jazz since the Gordon Hayward’s departure. However, although Mitchell hasn’t explicitly said it, there are reports that the relationship between Utah’s two All-Stars has deteriorated.
Any number of teams would be more than willing to send a hefty package Utah’s way in exchange for the explosive Mitchell. One team in particular would be Mitchell’s hometown New York Knicks. The Knicks still believe in RJ Barrett, but the Duke product is a dismal shooter and averaged just 2.6 assists per game in 30.4 MPG. Add in former lottery pick Kevin Knox and a couple of enticing picks, and the Knicks could haul in their first superstar since acquiring Carmelo Anthony.
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20. CJ McCollum — Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers receive: G CJ McCollum
Portland Trail Blazers receive: G Patrick Beverley, G Lou Williams, G Landry Shamet, Clippers 2020 Second-Round Pick, 2021 Second-Round Pick
The Clippers’ aggressiveness this offseason will likely depend on how — assuming the season resumes — the team does in the postseason. With both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George another year closer to free agency, the Clippers will want to do everything in their power to win while they have the stars on their roster. One of the small issues the Clippers have faced this season is the lack of playmaking outside of their top-two.
The rest of the team stands around quite a bit when Leonard or George is in possession. While adding McCollum might sound like it would further complicate that issue, that may not be the case. McCollum has spent his entire career playing alongside the ball-dominant Damian Lillard — he would have no problem taking advantage of defenses that are geared up to stop No. 2 and George.
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19. Ben Simmons — Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors receive: G Ben Simmons
Philadelphia 76ers receive: G Fred VanVleet, F OG Anunoby, G Norman Powell, G Terrence Davis, Raptors 2021 First-Round Pick
Let’s face it, the Sixers are at a complete impasse. No matter how badly Philly fans want it to work, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons do not complement each other on the basketball floor. It would likely behoove both stars to play with different rosters as either guy could potentially flourish if they can be surrounded by four knockdown shooters.
The Raptors have clearly shown the willingness to swing for the fences. They sent away one of the most popular players in the franchise’s history in DeMar DeRozan for one year of Kawhi Leoanrd — and it paid off big time. A sign-and-trade of VanVleet can make this happen, as Simmons figures in nicely on a Nick Nurse-led attack.
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18. Nikola Vucevic — Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics receive: C Nikola Vucevic, F Khem Birch
Orlando Magic receive: F Gordon Hayward, Celtics (via Memphis) 2020 First-Round Pick, Celtics 2020 Second-Round Pick
Nothing would make Boston fans happier than the team obtaining an All-Star center without surrendering any of the young starts currently on Boston’s roster. Adding Vucevic to a core that includes Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown would put the C’s back on top of the Eastern Conference — or at worst neck-and-neck with Milwaukee.
For Orlando, parting with Vucevic wouldn’t be an easy move. However, after Hayward comes off the books following the 2021 season, Orlando would have room to work with in free agency. The addition of Memphis’ first-round pick — while not as great as Boston had once hoped — is enough to convince Orlando to part with its No. 1 player.
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17. Joel Embiid — New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans receive: C Joel Embiid, F Mike Scott
Philadelphia 76ers receive: F Brandon Ingram, C Jaxson Hayes, Three First-Round Picks
If the Sixers were to ever dangle Embiid on the trade block, the offers would come in droves. Portland would give up anything on their roster sans Damian Lillard to try and acquire the big man. Dallas would throw Porzingis in the mix. Most would think Miami would be out of the race given Bam Adebayo’s emergence, but don’t count Pat Riley out that quickly. Even the Clippers would think about moving Paul George — with Kawhi’s consent — for a perennial All-Star center in Embiid.
However, we’re going to go with the most fun sounding move and send Embiid to New Orleans to team up with Zion. Brandon Ingram’s stock can’t be much higher than it is now, and the Pelicans have a trove of draft picks over the next several years. Zion and Embiid catching lobs from Lonzo Ball? Sign us up.
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16. Kyle Kuzma — Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons receive: F Kyle Kuzma, F Talen Horton-Tucker
Los Angeles Lakers receive: G Luke Kennard
Is there a better way to excite a fanbase than to bring a prodigal son back home? In this case, yes — but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a beneficial trade. In acquiring Kyle Kuzma, the Pistons are bringing the Flint native back to Michigan. While things haven’t exactly gone as planned with the Lakers, there is still reason to believe Kuzma can develop into a 20 PPG scorer. In Detroit, he would have that opportunity. Stealing Kennard from the Pistons would be a boon for the Lakers. Before games were suspended, Kennard was shooting a touch under 40-percent from three. As we’ve seen over the years, LeBron is tough to beat when he has shooters around him.
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15. Lauri Markkanen — Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors receive: F Lauri Markkanen
Chicago Bulls receive: C Kevon Looney, Warriors 2020 First-Round Pick
This trade seems to be one of the most logically sound potential moves of the offseason. The Warriors will have — at worst — a top-5 pick in the upcoming draft. No 20-year-old in the world is helping Steph, Klay and Draymond win their fourth title. Teams around the league likely aren’t going to be too keen on helping the 2018 NBA Champions retool after losing Kevin Durant — unless it helps said team in a big way.
Markkanen is right in the sweet-spot for potential Golden State targets. He’s a supremely talented big who can stretch the floor with a silky-smooth jumper. He’s coming off a bad year, and the Bulls are going nowhere fast. It’s the kind of calculated risk we could see out of the Warriors as they attempt to retake their spot among the Western Conference elite.
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14. Chris Paul — New York Knicks
New York Knicks receive: G Chris Paul
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: F Julius Randle, C Mitchell Robinson, G Dennis Smith Jr., C Taj Gibson
Paul has been phenomenal this season. When the Thunder sent franchise icon Russell Westbrook to Houston for Paul, the prevailing thought was that Paul would quickly be traded to a contender or bought out so he had his choice of teams. Instead, OKC held on to the future Hall of Famer and he has responded with a great season thus far.
However, with the Thunder not quite ready to contend for a championship, it makes sense for the franchise to move on from CP3. The Knicks, who are incredibly desperate for a star, are a good match. The Thunder can poach a young, talented big (Robinson), a former lottery pick (Smith) that still has time to tap into his potential, and two solid vets for the frontcourt (Randle, Gibson). For the Knicks, the chance to grab a star to play alongside RJ Barrett and their new lottery pick — potentially a top-5 pick — is a no-brainer.
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13. Mitchell Robinson — Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers receive: C Mitchell Robinson, G Wayne Ellington
New York Knicks receive: G Landry Shamet, C Ivica Zubac, G Terrence Mann, Clippers 2021 First-Round Pick
The Clippers boast one of the most complete teams in the league — though one glaring hole persists. As it currently stands, the Clips don’t possess a big man capable of matching up with the other great front court players in the Western Conference — namely, Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic.
Robinson can be a bit limited on the offensive end, but his athleticism and shot-blocking ability cannot be denied. Teams would find it nearly impossible to score on a lineup consisting of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Patrick Beverley and Robinson. A long and springy defender, Robinson would add yet another weapon to LA’s devastating two-way attack.
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12. Al Horford — New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans receive: F Al Horford, G Matisse Thybulle
Philadelphia 76ers receive: G Jrue Holiday
Show of hands, how many of you believed the combination of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and Al Horford would work? On paper, penciling in four All-Stars is a great thing. In reality, the pieces do not fit — at all. The Sixers are a team trying to win right now. Bringing Jrue Holiday back to Philadelphia to help run the offense — and take some of the burden off Simmons — would be a smart move for the club.
On the other side of the trade, New Orleans is likely a few years away from contending. Thybulle is a great defensive player and would help offset losing Holiday’s ability to impact a game defensively. Thybulle and Lonzo Ball would be amongst the best defensive backcourt’s in basketball. Horford might not be the star he once was, but bringing in the former All-Star to replace Derrick Favors would be a savvy move. An added bonus, New Orleans’ young big men — Zion Williamson and Jaxson Hayes — would benefit from time spent with Horford.
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11. DeMar DeRozan — Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors receive: G DeMar DeRozan
San Antonio Spurs receive: G Norman Powell, C Chris Boucher, Two Raptors Second-Round Picks
The Raptors dealing the face of its franchise in DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard back in 2018 was an unequivocal win for the organization. A team that could never quite get over the hump, Leonard guided the Raptors to an NBA title in his lone season in Toronto. Now with a championship ring in tow, its time to bring back the beloved former star.
DeRozan never wanted to leave Toronto — as exhibited by his dismay after hearing the news of his trade to the Spurs. Him and Kyle Lowry are very close, and it would be a feel-good ending if the duo were able to end their career together playing for the team they helped built. The Spurs get off DeRozan’s sizable contract, and add a couple of nice, affordable pieces in the two-way wing Powell and the intriguing big man Boucher.
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10. Aaron Gordon — Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets receive: F Aaron Gordon
Orlando Magic receive: G Gary Harris, Nuggets 2021 First-Round Pick
Aaron Gordon has been a fixture of trade rumors seemingly since he first entered the NBA. Is this the year he is finally shipped out of Orlando? First, let’s take a glance at Denver’s impending departures. Forwards Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee, Jerami Grant and Noah Vonleh are all out of contract at seasons end. Gordon would instantly fill the hole left by Millsap and Plumlee especially. Imagine pairing Gordon with Michael Porter Jr. — talk about an athletic duo.
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9. Blake Griffin — Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: F Blake Griffin
Detroit Pistons receive: C Steven Adams, F Darius Bazley, Two Thunder Second-Round Picks
A former Sooner makes his way back Oklahoma. Griffin was a collegiate dynamo in his one year in Norman. He’s done just about everything there is to do in the league, and is now facing the twilight of his career as he has nursed several nagging injuries over the last few years.
Griffin comes at a hefty price — about $35 per over the next three years — but he remains a quality player who can add some size, skill and stability to a rather flimsy Oklahoma City frontcourt. At the very least, it would be intriguing to see Griffin take on a veteran leadership role with the young Thunder.
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8. Victor Oladipo — Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz receive: G Victor Oladipo, C Myles Turner, Pacers 2022 Second-Round Pick
Indiana Pacers receive: C Rudy Gobert, G Joe Ingles
As touched upon earlier, Rudy Gobert’s availability will likely be dictated by his teammates demeanor. If the players — especially Donovan Mitchell — resent the All-NBA center for his actions prior to testing positive for COVID-19, the Jazz may want to cut ties with Gobert in order to keep the team unified. If that ends up being the case, perhaps the Pacers will strike.
In order to acquire Gobert, Indiana would have to part ways with Victor Oladipo. An All-Star in his first two years with the franchise, Oladipo struggled in his return to action earlier this season. A ruptured quad is a very serious injury, so it isn’t shocking that Oladipo isn’t performing up to his standards to this point. However, the All-Star guard is just 28 years old and has plenty of time to regain his form. Including Myles Turner in the deal would give Utah its new center, and Joe Ingles would help fill the shooting guard spot in Indiana.
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7. Jrue Holiday — Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers receive: G Jrue Holiday
New Orleans Pelicans receive: G C.J. McCollum
NBA trades are hardly ever this simple, but this proposed deal simply make a ton of sense. The Trail Blazers have tried their luck running the Dame-C.J. backcourt for a while now, and it simply can’t hold up in postseason play. Adding a defensive-minded guard in Holiday who can matchup with opposing team’s top players would do wonders for Lillard as the season wears on.
From the Pels perspective, McCollum is a far more advanced shooter and difficult shot-maker than Holiday. He would fit in nicely as a No. 2 scorer alongside Brandon Ingram and his range and quick release would help stretch the floor and open up lanes for Zion Williamson.
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6. Malik Monk — Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings receive: G Malik Monk
Charlotte Hornets receive: F Jabari Parker
Jabari Parker is a fine player but has never lived up to the hype. Malik Monk is a mediocre player who has also failed to live up to the hype. So, why not trade them for each other? In three seasons after being selected No. 11 overall, Monk has started just one game for the Hornets. His three-point shot was decent his first two years (33.5-percent) but has fallen to 28-percent in Year 3. Parker remains a capable scorer — 14.7 PPG in 2020 — but has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. Perhaps reconnecting Monk with his former collegiate teammate — De’Aaron Fox — will result in a breakout season.
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5. De’Aaron Fox — Miami Heat
Miami Heat receive: G De’Aaron Fox
Sacramento Heat receive: G Tyler Herro, G Kendrick Nunn, F KZ Okpala, Heat 2022 First-Round Pick
Now this is a fun one to ponder upon. Fox has had a fairly volatile start to his career. The Kentucky product was one of the worst rotation players in the league in Year 1, and then emerged as one of the brightest young stars during his sophomore campaign. Injuries, and a lack of overall stability clouded his 2020 as he took a slight step back in his third year in the league.
The Kings have never been known for their ability to nurture and grow young talent. On the other hand, the Heat — and coach Erik Spoelstra — have a knack for getting the most out of its players. They’ve acquired some good, young players over the last couple of years — and would likely love to hold onto Tyler Herro if possible — which could net them another star to develop alongside the emerging Bam Adebayo.
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4. Kristaps Porzingis — Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers receive: F Kristaps Porzingis
Dallas Mavericks receive: C Joel Embiid
Something is off between Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Both of the supremely talented players appear to enjoy the game of basketball a little bit more when the other isn’t on the court. So, when Embiid finally reaches his boiling point after yet another failed postseason, the superstar center will request a trade. A public trade request would undoubtedly compromise Philadelphia’s position, but the franchise would need a star player in return if it was to pull the trigger.
Hello, Kristaps. While every owner would jump at the chance to grab Embiid, few would be bold enough to immediately offer up an asset that they acquired just months prior. When it comes to Mark Cuban, however, he wouldn’t hesitate. Embiid would give Dallas an interior force that it has never had. The combo of Emiid and Doncic would be mesmerizing. And for the Sixers, they could do much worse than replacing Embiid with Porzingis.
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3. Bradley Beal — Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers receive: G Bradley Beal, G Ish Smith
Washington Wizards receive: F Tobias Harris, G Josh Richardson
Embiid and Simmons have similar skill-sets which make them odd fits together on the basketball floor, but there’s no denying each of their talents. The Sixers have struck gold with two legitimate All-NBA caliber players, and will need to cash in on this opportunity before its too late.
While Harris and Richardson are both good players, adding another bonafide star alongside Simmons and Embiid could be the missing ingredient for Philadelphia to make it over the hump. Beal has the perfect game to pair alongside Philly’s two stars — a combo guard with elite shooting touch and playmaking ability. This three-headed monster would be a tough out for any team in the league.
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2. Mike Conley — Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks receive: G Mike Conley
Utah Jazz receive: G Eric Bledsoe, G George Hill, F Ersan İlyasova, Bucks 2020 First-Round Pick
Although Conley started to turn things around in the ten or so games leading up to the NBA season being suspended, his first season in Utah has largely been a disappointment. He is shooting a tick over 40-percent from the field and has looked out of place when sharing the court with Donovan Mitchell. For Milwaukee, trading for Conley accomplishes two things. First, the ability to replace Eric Bledsoe — who has floundered in the postseason — for Conley could be a boon. Conley’s game would mesh well with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s.
The second reason may be more appealing. Bledsoe is under contract through the 2022-23 season, where as Conley would be off the books after next season. Even if the Conley/Giannis pairing doesn’t pan out, Milwaukee would enter the offseason with a ton of extra money that they wouldn’t have if Bledsoe was still in town.
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1. Chris Paul — Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers receive: G Chris Paul
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: Every Laker not named LeBron James or Anthony Davis
The Thunder have been one of the feel-good stories of the 2020 NBA season. Projected to be a lottery team in the process of a rebuild, Chris Paul, Billy Donovan and the rest of the scrappy Thunder have emerged as a playoff contender who could potentially topple one of the top-seeds. Paul in particular has been simply sensational in his Year 15 season, guiding the young team and providing plenty of late-game heroics along the way.
Paul’s impact on the young Thunder cannot be understated, but the team as currently constructed doesn’t possess immediate title aspirations. Nearing the end of his illustrious career, Paul likely has only has a couple of more chances to capture the NBA Championship ring that has eluded him throughout his career. Linking up with his old buddy LeBron James and perennial All-NBA selection Anthony Davis could help Paul realize his title hopes. It would take quite a bit — and the Thunder potentially soaking up a part of his salary — but this is a match made in heaven.
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