4 More Star-for-Star NBA Blockbuster Trades That Actually Work
Who knew the basketball gods were just as captivated by NBA chaos as all of us trade-machine enthusiasts?
Just when it seemed the hoops world might be headed toward a sleepy trade season due to a shortage of obvious sellers and the punitive restrictions of the collective bargaining agreement, the trade market fully awakened with a pair of blockbusters during one of the wildest weekends in recent memory.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks delivered a true internet-breaker routing Luka Dončić to Hollywood and Anthony Davis to the DFW. Superstar-for-superstar swaps like this are seen about as often as Bigfoot, but this was a reminder that anything is, in fact, possible in the Association. And less than 24 hours later, De'Aaron Fox became Victor Wembanyama's co-star on the San Antonio Spurs with the Sacramento Kings bringing back Zach LaVine and a host of draft considerations.
Could more fireworks be in the cards ahead of Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline? We certainly hope so, and maybe the basketball gods agree. Let's spitball some more star-for-star swaps that actually make sense, then, focusing on the player-for-player foundation of potential deals without worrying about the financial particulars that might need filling in for these trades to go down.
Austin Reaves for Myles Turner
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Why the Los Angeles Lakers Do It
The Lakers were lacking on the interior even before sacrificing Davis for Dončić. The Brow-less center rotation is down to Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber, Christian Wood (who has yet to suit up following September knee surgery) and two-way contract-holders Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison III. There is quantity, sure, but as far as quality goes, it's now among the Association's weakest position groups.
They need to fill this spot fast, and could do so with Turner, a player they "have long coveted," per The Athletic's Jovan Buha.
Turner's future in the Circle City seems up in the air, as his contract is set to expire upon this campaign's completion. Buha described Turner as "sneakily gettable" with skepticism surrounding Indiana's willingness to cover the cost of his upcoming free agency.
Turner would be a near-ideal find for the 5 spot in L.A. He can do all the dirty work around the basket—his rim protection would be vital behind this perimeter group—and he's also a deft shooter from distance (2.1 threes on 40 percent shooting this season). As a screen partner for Dončić or LeBron James, defenses would have to account for Turner as both a rolling and popping threat. That should leave a ton of real estate for two of the league's top shot-creators to exploit.
Why the Indiana Pacers Do It
If the Pacers aren't willing to pay what it will take to keep Turner—he'll want a contract "starting in the $30-plus million range annually," per Buha—then this is their chance to get back something of value before losing him for nothing this summer.
Perhaps this article does a slight favor to Reaves by labeling him a star, but that's not a gross exaggeration of his game. He is one of 11 players averaging at least 18 points, six assists and 2.5 three-pointers, and he's the only third option on that list.
He is also on one of the league's best non-rookie contracts. He costs $13 million this season and will make $13.9 million next season. That's great value for the production, and that's without accounting for any additional growth from the fourth-year guard.
The Pacers have gotten great mileage out of pairing Tyrese Haliburton with a second playmaker (Andrew Nembhard), but Reaves is in a different tier as a scorer and creator. Getting him would up Indiana's offensive efficiency, and it could also free up this front office to use its backcourt depth to fortify the frontcourt with a more certain, perhaps less costly option than Turner.
LaMelo Ball for Fred VanVleet
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Why the Houston Rockets Do It
The Rockets have continually held to the line that this isn't the right time for their acceleration. They wouldn't break up their young core for Giannis Antetokounmpo and sat out the De'Aaron Fox sweepstakes.
Why would things be different with Ball? Because while he not only would address this team's lack of star power, the 23-year-old also happens to be a perfect timeline fit. He's not even a year older than Alperen Şengün and Jalen Green.
Houston has found a winning formula with a top-five defense and an egalitarian offense. Still, it's fair to wonder whether the Rockets would prefer to have an offensive focal point, particularly when considering their struggles in big spots (18th in clutch offense). Ball would give them a late-game starting point, and he's such a skilled passer that he would help bring out the best in their supporting cast.
There should also be hope that Rockets coach Ime Udoka could get more out of Ball on the defensive end. He wouldn't be carrying as heavy an offensive burden as he has in Charlotte, so that alone might increase his activity. He should be a better stopper based on his physical tools and basketball IQ, and Udoka might help him realize his potential.
Why the Charlotte Hornets Do It
The Hornets are barreling toward their fourth losing record during Ball's five seasons in Buzz City. This franchise badly needs a refresh, and this could be the perfect time to reset the roster around Brandon Miller and whomever this team snatches up from the well-regarded 2025 draft class.
VanVleet, a soon-to-be 31-year-old, would seem a curious fit for this roster, because he is one. However, he'd just be the biggest name in what would undoubtedly be a robust return package for Ball. In other words, the Hornets would do this deal less for VanVleet himself than they would all of the assets (some combination of picks and prospects) that would come along with him.
Having said that, Charlotte could extract value from VanVleet in a few different ways. First, his tenacity and championship experience would be helpful tone-setters in directing the Hornets' rebuild. Remember, the Rockets seemed nowhere near ready to launch when they gave him a three-year, $130 million pact in 2023. Two years later, they have one of the West's top-four seeds in hand.
Charlotte shouldn't expect such a quick, dramatic turnaround, but it might not be chasing that vision, anyway. It might simply see VanVleet as a helpful placeholder until some other win-now or win-hopefully-soon suitor comes calling with a trade offer that would effectively increase what should already be a haul for Ball.
Jimmy Butler for Paul George
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Why the Philadelphia 76ers Do It
The Sixers have championship dreams and a play-in tournament (or even draft-lottery) reality. The Paul George-Joel Embiid-Tyrese Maxey trio was supposed to be a ready-made contender, and maybe it would be if Philly could ever keep all three players on the floor. Still, the gap between the expectations and the result might be too wide for the Sixers to sit back and do nothing.
That's why the Sixers might be weighing a Jimmy Butler reunion, per Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill, apparently at Embiid's behest. The two spent most of the 2018-19 campaign together and built a bond that has endured well beyond it.
Butler's first stint in Philly didn't last long, but that was more on the Sixers than him. It's possible his second go-round could be a short one, too, since this is the last guaranteed season on his contract ($52.4 million player option for next season). Even if it was, though, Philly might prefer the flexibility gained from a split over covering the remainder of George's four-year, $211.6 million pact.
Granted, if the Sixers can't get more out of Embiid, who's been limited to just 13 appearances by injuries, they're probably toast, anyway. If they believe he can get right during the stretch run, though, they could try gearing up for a furious push through the playoffs. It's hard to think of a better catalyst for such a Herculean task than Butler, who's only two seasons removed from carrying the then-eighth-seeded Heat to the 2023 NBA Finals.
Why the Miami Heat Do It
Whatever patience they once had regarding their bitter breakup with Butler is out the window. On the heels of the swingman's third team suspension this season, the Heat "have lowered their asking price" to get Butler out of South Beach, per Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports.
Miami is probably fielding a lot of dime-on-the-dollar offers at the moment. George should be regarded as a closer to a half-dollar, or maybe a lot more if the Heat trust their training staff to get more mileage out of him than the Sixers have.
In a vacuum, Butler might be a better all-around player than George, but the latter could be easier to slot alongside Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Butler apparently grew miffed about the idea that Miami was "prioritizing Adebayo and Herro over him," per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. That shouldn't be a worry with George, who is better equipped to handle an off-ball role on offense and has already supported other stars in Philly, L.A. (Kawhi Leonard) and Oklahoma City (Russell Westbrook).
George's contract cost is a concern, particularly in light of Miami's most grandiose plans for 2026 free agency. If the Heat can keep him healthy, though, they'd be getting a difference-maker right now. That feels like something a franchise that is perpetually pushing for maximum competitiveness would be into.
Jonathan Kuminga for Kevin Durant
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Why the Golden State Warriors Do It
No one dreams bigger than the Dubs, and their aspirations are somehow elevating. Their latest "big-game hunting strategy" involves attempting to reunite the Team USA squad by pairing co-star-less Stephen Curry with both LeBron James and Kevin Durant, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
It takes more than big dreams to make that happen, of course, and the latest discourse surrounding James, who notably holds a no-trade clause, is that he's staying put. Things could be different with Durant, though, as the Suns are reportedly listening to offers, per Fischer, after getting no traction on their highly publicized Jimmy Butler pursuit.
If Phoenix senses it's stuck and needs a Durant deal to get unstuck, Golden State would be more than happy to be oblige. The Warriors have long needed a second scorer to pair with Curry, and Durant ranks favorably among history's best bucket-getters. He even has a history of succeeding in this setup, having made three NBA Finals and won two championships (and two Finals MVP awards) during his three-season stint with the squad.
Golden State would face one of the league's most pressing time crunches if they were to reunite Curry and Durant, who will both turn 37 this year. Still, it speaks to their immense ability and skill that they've aged gracefully enough to think the Dubs might get a few cracks at the crown with this uber-talented twosome leading the charge.
Why the Phoenix Suns Do It
If the Suns reach the point of dealing away Durant, then they're effectively starting over. Or at least resetting the roster around Devin Booker. This asset-strapped squad will need to cobble together as many building blocks as it can find, and Kuminga should fit the bill.
He might not be an established star, but he has resembled an ascending one for much of this season and last. Before being sidelined by an ankle injury in early January, he was riding a 14-game heater that had him potentially positioned to crack the elite ranks sooner than later. In that stretch, he averaged 20.5 points in just 29.7 minutes while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from the perimeter.
The Suns have "a level of interest" in Kuminga, who wouldn't be the only part of their return for Durant. Far from it. They'd need more players to make the salaries work, first, but they'd also ask for—and presumably get—a strong combination of draft picks and young players. Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody and Trayce Jackson-Davis all seem like logical trade candidates to join Kuminga on the trip to Phoenix.
The quantity would matter to the Suns, who essentially invested everything they had into the Durant-Booker-Beal trio. The quality of Kuminga, though, would still be the biggest selling point. If Phoenix thinks he's on the fast-track to stardom, then it would give him every opportunity to realize his potential there—hopefully fast enough for this team to still make noise during the remainder of Booker's prime.
