No-Brainer NBA Trade Ideas for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anfernee Simons, More
NBA rumor season is only getting hotter now that more teams have been eliminated from the playoffs.
The future of Giannis Antetokounmpo could depend on how the draft lottery shakes out. The Orlando Magic reportedly have interest in one Western Conference guard, and Bam Adebayo believes there are a lot of changes coming for the Miami Heat this summer.
We've taken the latest trade rumors and projected what those potential deals could look like.
Anfernee Simons Boosts Orlando Magic's Offensive Attack
1 of 5
Orlando Magic Receive: G Anfernee Simons
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G Anthony Black, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2025 first-round pick (No. 25 overall via Denver Nuggets)
Why Magic Do It
Orlando needs offensive help, even when a healthy Jalen Suggs returns to the court.
The Magic followed up a 27th-ranked scoring attack in the regular season by averaging just 93.6 points per game in the playoffs, the lowest of all 16 teams.
A pass-first point guard who can elevate Paolo Bachero, Franz Wagner and others should be the first priority, although a combo guard like Simons, 25, is considered a projected target, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
Putting Simons (19.3 points, 4.8 assists, 37.7 percent on catch-and-shoot threes last season) in the starting backcourt next to Suggs would help boost this team's offense and help shed what now looks like a bad Caldwell-Pope contract.
Why Trail Blazers Do It
Simons is entering the final year of his contract and may not be in Portland's long-term plans with Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe still on rookie deals.
Moving the 2018 first-rounder now instead of at the deadline would maximize his value and give the rebuilding Blazers a second first-round pick in next month's draft.
Black, 21, is a 6'7" guard who brings good defensive potential and would complement the offensive-minded backcourt already in place in Portland.
The No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft gives the Blazers another prospect with upside to build around.
Portland has taken in a number of veterans via trade in recent years (Jrue Holiday, Malcolm Brogdon) only to flip them to contenders later. They could do the same with Caldwell-Pope here or keep the two-time NBA champion if the team is in the playoff hunt this season.
Mitchell Robinson Gives Lakers a Shot-Blocking, Lob-Catching Center
2 of 5
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: C Mitchell Robinson
New York Knicks Receive: F Jarred Vanderbilt, 2025 second-round pick, 2026 first-round pick swap rights
Why Lakers Do It
The center position for the Lakers was easily the weakest spot of any playoff team, causing head coach J.J. Redick to (unsuccessfully) play small against a large Minnesota Timberwolves team.
"I think when you make a huge trade at the deadline where you trade your starting center for a point guard, of course that's going to create significant issues with the roster, and we saw some of those play out," Lakers president of basketball operations and GM Rob Pelinka told reporters. "We know this offseason, one of our primary goals is going to be to add size in our frontcourt at the center position."
The Lakers don't need an All-Star center, but rather just someone with size who can protect the rim and be a vertical lob threat for Luka Dončić and LeBron James to find.
Robinson, 27, is a true 7-footer who knows his role and plays it well. He does a good job of cleaning the offensive glass and has blocked 2.7 shots per 36 minutes in his seven-year career.
Why Knicks Do It
The addition of Karl-Anthony Towns has meant a full-time move to the bench for Robinson, who previously started 170 of his 193 games the past four years. He isn't nearly as valuable to this new-look group as he was alongside Julius Randle and Co.
Vanderbilt, 26, is a more versatile defender who can play and guard multiple positions and brings an outside shooting threat that Robinson doesn't. For a Knicks bench that isn't very deep, this kind of versatility is important.
New York also gets the right to swap first-round picks with the Lakers next season and collects their second-rounder in next month's draft. The Knicks currently have just one pick (No. 50 overall) in the entire draft.
Miami Heat Load Up for Next Season
3 of 5
Miami Heat Receive: F Lauri Markkanen, G Collin Sexton, G Jordan Clarkson
Utah Jazz Receive: Nikola Jović, F Andrew Wiggins, G Terry Rozier, F Duncan Robinson, 2025 first-round pick (via Golden State Warriors), 2029 first-round pick (top-5 protected)
Why Heat Do It
This was one of the most disappointing and ugliest seasons in recent memory for the Heat, a franchise that's been incredibly successful the past two decades.
Limping into the playoffs only to get swept with a 55-point loss isn't going to sit well with team president Pat Riley, according to Bam Adebayo.
"There's going to be a lot of changes this summer. Just from my point of view, understanding how the guy with the silver hair works. Just be prepared for that," Adebayo said, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.
One player may not do it. Instead, Miami should be pursuing multiple starters and/or rotation players who can fill in around Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware and others to get this roster good enough to win a playoff series again.
Markkanen, 27, has averaged 23.0 points and 7.7 rebounds on 38.0 percent shooting from deep the past three seasons for the Jazz. Sexton, 26, put up 18.4 points on 40.6 percent from three last year, while Clarkson, 32, is a recent Sixth Man of the Year award winner who chipped in 16.2 points per game off the bench in 2024-25.
All three would give Miami an infusion of talent while allowing the Heat to keep their main guys.
Why Jazz Do It
Utah has the best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft and should be going full rebuild by offloading veterans on long-term deals now.
Markkanen's contract doesn't look nearly as good coming off a down season (four years, $195.8 million), while Sexton and Clarkson are both a little too old to see a rebuild through.
Rozier and Robinson represent $46.4 million worth of expiring contracts while Jović is still just 21 coming off his third professional season. The 6'10" forward could thrive in head coach Will Hardy's system in a bigger role.
Utah also adds a pair of first-round picks, including the 20th overall selection in 2025.
Celtics Shed Salary, Pistons Load Up in 3-Team Deal
4 of 5
Boston Celtics Receive: F/C Isaiah Stewart
Detroit Pistons Receive: G Jrue Holiday, F Cam Johnson
Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Tobias Harris, F Sam Hauser, G Marcus Sasser, 2026 first-round pick (top-five protected via Detroit)
Why Celtics Do It
In a word: Money.
Jayson Tatum's new five-year, $313 million contract is kicking in next season, which has Boston already $22.7 million over the second apron before filling out a complete roster. That could mean a roster and tax bill approaching half-a-billion dollars, something the new owners may not want to pay.
"I can tell you, the rest of the league is bracing for some level of change to come to the Celtics roster this offseason. Sources have been telling me for weeks now that the Celtics will be exploring trade options in the offseason. This iteration is just not going to be sustainable for this team," ESPN's Shams Charania told The Pat McAfee Show.
Holiday turns 35 next month and will be Boston's third-highest paid player next year. Moving him and Sam Hauser in this deal for Stewart saves the Celtics $27.4 million next season and gets them out of the second apron.
Why Pistons Do It
Detroit is very much on the rise and adds two potential starters to a team that nearly won its playoff series against the New York Knicks.
Holiday is the perfect veteran to add to this young core and is still a very good defender who averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists this season. Johnson immediately becomes the Pistons' starting power forward and is an ideal floor-spacer who averaged 18.8 points on 39.0 percent shooting from three.
Why Nets Do It
Brooklyn can use its cap space to take on veterans in exchange for draft picks this summer.
The Nets get a lightly protected first-round pick from the Pistons in 2026 and should have interest in Sasser, a 24-year–old guard who was a first-round pick in 2023.
Both Harris and Hauser can be flipped to contenders in the offseason or at the trade deadline for additional draft capital.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Gives Houston Its Superstar
5 of 5
Houston Rockets Receive: PF Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: SG Jalen Green, PF Jabari Smith Jr., F Cam Whitmore, PG Aaron Holiday, 2025 first-round pick (via Phoenix Suns), 2027 first-round pick (via Phoenix Suns)
Why Rockets Do It
If the Rockets had had Antetokounmpo for their first-round series against the Golden State Warriors, we'd be talking about Houston moving on and seriously pushing the Oklahoma City Thunder to get to the NBA Finals.
Antetokounmpo is exactly what this team needs: A No. 1 scoring option who's also a skilled passer and can dominate on both ends of the ball.
In this proposal, the two-time MVP would join a core of Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason to create a powerhouse in the West ready to compete for championships.
Houston averaged just 93.3 points in its four losses to the Warriors. Antetokounmpo has averaged 30.0 points per game over the last five seasons and would be the offensive answer this team needs.
Why Bucks Do It
There's no universe that exists where the Bucks are close to winning a title next year with Damian Lillard recovering from a torn Achilles.
The sad reality is that an Antetokounmpo trade needs to happen now to maximize his value, as the 30-year-old still has two guaranteed years remaining on his contract. This is a chance for Milwaukee to get a haul of draft picks and young players, including a really good selection in the 2025 draft.
"I want to draw your attention to one week from Monday. That's the NBA draft lottery. The Cooper Flagg lottery... I want to point two teams out to you: the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. Both of them are in the lottery," ESPN's Brian Windhorst told Get Up.
It would be difficult to imagine Houston parting with a potential No. 1 overall pick in a deal for Antetokounmpo, but its selection (via the Phoenix Suns) does have a 17.3 percent chance to land in the top four overall.
Getting a player such as Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe would help Milwaukee begin a new era.
