At Least 1 Trade Idea for Every Team Watching 2025 NBA Finals at Home
As the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to tip off the 2025 NBA Finals, the rest of the league is surely stewing over ways to be in their shoes a year from now (or shortly thereafter).
Don't believe me? Try ESPN's biggest news breaker, Shams Charania, who recently predicted this could be the "most craziest" offseason the league has ever seen.
That's sure to include trades, and most of the league's front offices are almost certainly concocting countless mock deals right now.
Below, we'll comb through every team that's not in the Finals and try to identify some potential moves they should be interested in.
Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic
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Trae Young for Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, Jett Howard and a top 10-protected 2027 first-round pick
Part of what makes the up-and-coming Orlando Magic so fascinating is the playmaking abilities of forwards Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero.
Creation for themselves and others from those spots (as opposed to a traditional point guard), at least in theory, should have made the offense less predictable. But dreadful three-point shooting doomed Orlando to a bottom-five offense in 2024-25.
And though Wagner and Banchero could eventually develop into legitimate lead playmakers in time, they're not there yet. And Trae Young would absolutely supercharge the Magic attack. His Atlanta Hawks haven't had a below-average offense when he's on the floor since his rookie campaign.
So, why would Atlanta move on from him?
Well, the Hawks have never been able to figure out how to surround him with a workable defense that can cover for his shortcomings on that end. And they're brewing their own little positionless philosophy that could benefit from Jalen Suggs' defense and a few more on-ball opportunities for the likes of Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher.
Getting a starting-caliber guard, a prospect with plenty of potential in Anthony Black, a flier on Jett Howard and a first-round pick is a decent haul for an offense-first (and sometimes offense-only) creator you've likely already topped out with.
Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons
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Derrick White and Baylor Scheierman for Jaden Ivey, a top-10 protected 2027 first-round pick and a top-5 protected 2029 first-round pick
The Boston Celtics have some decisions to make during what is likely to be something of a gap year in 2025-26.
Jayson Tatum will likely spend all of the campaign rehabbing a ruptured Achilles. And without him, it will be hard to justify having the most expensive roster in the league by far.
Instead of paying north of $220 million in salary and north of $230 million in the luxury tax, Boston could send a player (or players) into another team's cap space and go for a quick reload for 2026-27.
This is exactly that kind of deal. And though it would hurt to lose Derrick White, Jaden Ivey is an interesting potential replacement who's younger, makes less money (for now) and still has plenty of developmental runway.
Getting picks along with him is a bonus for an expensive team that will need contributors on rookie deals for the foreseeable future.
For the Detroit Pistons, this is obviously about taking the next step toward meaningful contention. White will improve the team's defense, take a little pressure off Cade Cunningham as a playmaker and boost the team's three-point volume and efficiency.
Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics
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Jaylen Brown for Cam Thomas (sign-and-trade), Noah Clowney, the No. 8 pick in 2025 and a 2027 first-round pick (via Philadelphia) and a 2032 first-round pick
This is a far more dramatic approach to the idea outlined above. Trading Jaylen Brown feels wildly unlikely, but trading him into cap space could put Boston within striking distance of ducking the new collective bargaining agreement's dreaded aprons.
And while this deal doesn't get the Celtics as much immediate help as the one above, it does land them multiple draft picks that could be used down the road or included in win-now trades.
On the Brooklyn Nets end, fans probably wouldn't be stoked to see three firsts headed out the door for a potentially cumbersome contract, but there isn't a surefire All-Star on the roster. And Brown in this situation, as the clear Alpha scorer, would almost certainly be a sure-fire All-Star for years to come.
Brooklyn probably wouldn't be a title contender after this deal, but the East will be down in 2025-26, and a core with Brown, Cameron Johnson and Nicolas Claxton would be competitive.
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Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic
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LaMelo Ball for Jalen Suggs, Jett Howard and the No. 16 pick
LaMelo Ball is on the list of players in this article who aren't likely to be moved this summer, but HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported that multiple executives are "monitoring" his availability.
If he does indeed hit the market, he's another solid option for the offensively challenged Magic. And he almost certainly wouldn't cost as much as Young.
His playmaking would help Orlando, but the bigger boost he could provide may be on the shooting front. His three-point percentage plummeted to 33.9 in 2024-25, but getting up more than 10 per game would change the geometry of the floor for the Magic.
The three-point volume that comes with Ball commands attention outside the line, and that would widen driving lanes for Wagner and Banchero.
He wouldn't be as tricky to cover for defensively as Young, either. Of course, Ball no lockdown defender, but his 7'1" wingspan make him an easier addition to Orlando's long, malleable defense.
For Charlotte, a more defensive-minded guard like Suggs would open up more on-ball opportunities for Brandon Miller. And another near-lottery pick in this draft would give the Hornets a chance to add a young talent who fits alongside Miller.
Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors
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Nikola Vučević, the No. 45 pick and a 2028 second-round pick for Moses Moody and Buddy Hield
The Chicago Bulls had an intriguing close to the 2024-25 campaign, going 15-5 over the last 20 games and seeing plenty of upside from Coby White, Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis.
One reasonable reaction to the finish could be adding some veteran talent in an effort to get closer to a top-six finish, but doubling down on the younger core is the better course.
Chicago should sign up to pay the second contract of Moses Moody, which is plenty reasonable (it tops out at $13.4 million in 2027-28) and is attached to a player who just turned 23.
The upside for lineups with Moody, Buzelis and White is certainly higher than any with Nikola Vučević or Lonzo Ball. And with some of the young players already on the roster seemingly ahead of schedule, Chicago is in a solid position to take swings at upside.
For the Golden State Warriors, this is a bit of a desperation move, since Vučević is 34 and on an expiring contract. His long-term value is nowhere near Moody's (hence, Chicago's inclusion of some draft capital).
But they were woefully thin at the 5 in 2024-25. And even at this age, Vuč is a starting center who can pass, space the floor and fit into Golden State's read-and-react system.
Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic
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Darius Garland for Jalen Suggs, Jett Howard and a top-five protected 2027 first-round pick
After an East-leading 64 wins in the regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a disappointing playoff run that the Pacers ended in the second round.
And despite their gaudy record and point differential, that early flameout will almost certainly raise questions that have lurked in the background of the entire Donovan Mitchell era.
Can Mitchell and Darius Garland, given how small they are, really survive on defense as a starting backcourt? Is there too much overlap between Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen?
Expect plenty of rumors and fake trades aimed at answering those questions this summer.
That's what this one potentially does, giving Cleveland a much more defensive-minded guard to play alongside Mitchell in Suggs. Swapping him in for Garland would almost certainly slow the offense a bit, but the tradeoff might be worth it for a more viable playoff defense.
As for Orlando's side of the deal. Well, you get the picture by now. The Magic look primed to make a move for a point guard. And if Garland is available, they at least have to inquire.
Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets
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Anthony Davis for Miles Bridges, Jusuf Nurkić, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick
After pulling off the least explicable trade in NBA history when he sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison aggressively (and publicly) tied his reputation (and maybe his career) to Anthony Davis and the old cliche "defense wins championships."
An about-face and AD trade just aren't happening under his regime. But ownership has put some guardrails around Harrison since the deal, generally trying to keep him out of the public eye and monitoring his work a little more carefully going forward. The guardrails seem high enough to wonder why he's even still there.
And if Dallas (particularly governor Patrick Dumont) realize the best path forward is a new lead executive and a rebuild around eventual No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, an AD trade could at least partially make up for the fact that Harrison didn't extract near enough value out of the Luka deal.
The trade above is exactly that kind of move.
Jusuf Nurkić's deal expires after this coming season. Miles Bridges' is done the year after that. Neither would be likely to be around the next time Dallas is truly competitive.
This is about getting out of the contract of a post-prime and oft-injured Davis (who's far more expensive than Nurkić and Bridges and under contract through 2028) and picking up multiple picks with which to build around Flagg.
For Charlotte, this would obviously be a move to send it in the opposite direction of the one laid out above. Pursuing Davis would almost certainly mean keeping Ball. Those two would be a dynamic inside-out combo, especially with Miller providing some floor spacing on their flank.
Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans
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Trey Murphy III and Kelly Olynyk for Michael Porter Jr., Peyton Watson, a 2031 first-round pick swap and a 2032 first-round pick
Any time the Denver Nuggets come up in a trade rumor, it's hard to imagine how or why. Almost all of their draft capital has already been spent, and the two most obvious trade candidates (Jamal Murray and Michael Porter) are on contracts and have health history that make it hard to imagine many teams pining after them.
And yet, at least one sportsbook listed the Nuggets as the favorite to land New Orleans Pelicans' forward Trey Murphy III in the event he's dealt this summer.
So, to that end, it's worth at least exploring what Denver's best offer might be (even if plenty of other teams could probably beat it).
MPJ had a down (and injury-plagued) postseason, but he averaged 18.2 points and shot 39.5 percent from three in the regular season. More importantly, his contract ends two years earlier than Murphy's, which has value for a team that could be eyeing a full-scale teardown and rebuild.
That extra flexibility, a shot at developing 22-year-old defensive ace Peyton Watson and some draft consideration could be enough to at least intrigue New Orleans.
The Pelicans would also include Kelly Olynyk, in large part to make the math work, but he'd be far from a throw-in for Denver. The Nuggets have struggled (and failed) to find a helpful backup center since Mason Plumlee left. And though Olynyk is well past his prime, his shooting and playmaking could be huge boosts to a generally underwhelming second unit.
Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks
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Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick and a 2032 first-round pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo
If you thought this went a little heavy on the "Magic need a point guard" deals, brace yourself for the number of Giannis Antetokounmpo suitors you're about to see.
He is, without question, the biggest name potentially available this summer. And if the Milwaukee Bucks do indeed open themselves up to offers, they're going to get a ton.
Typically, the superstar trade path includes a list of teams he'd agree to play for long-term, and the Detroit Pistons may not be on that for Giannis, but it wouldn't hurt to still be among the offerors.
Detroit can surrender a ready-made rebuild core with Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. It could flip Tobias Harris in a subsequent trade. And of course, the Pistons can offer a good haul of draft picks, too.
If Milwaukee moves Giannis, it should be for a deal that fires up a new era. And this one would do exactly that.
As for Detroit, there would be some work to do to flesh out the roster, but Giannis and Cade Cunningham would be a dynamic top two good enough to compete for a title.
Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks
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Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, a 2027 first-round pick (via Phoenix), a 2028 first-round pick swap, a 2030 first-round pick and a 2032 first-round pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo
As promised, we have another Giannis deal, and this one would almost certainly get the superstar a little closer to short-term contention than the Pistons move.
There has been plenty of speculation already as to how the Houston Rockets might be able to land Giannis without giving up Amen Thompson, but the deal could be a lot cleaner by simply including him.
Yes, that would hurt. But the chances of Thompson becoming a multi-time MVP are pretty low, even if he does have plenty of star potential.
Trading him, Fred VanVleet (and his hefty salary) and a boatload of picks for Giannis would give the Rockets one of the best starting frontcourts in the league. He and Alperen Şengün can play together. And the roster would still have plenty of upside with Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard.
As for the Bucks, this deal gives them a young wing with bona fide All-NBA upside and multiple picks with which to build around him.
A bidding war might allow Milwaukee to insist on at least one more Rocket being in the deal, but this wouldn't be a bad start to a rebuild.
Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics
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Norman Powell, Kris Dunn and Cam Christie for Jrue Holiday
Jrue Holiday is perhaps the most obvious candidate for a cost-cutting move from the Celtics, even if his age (35 this month), contract (which runs through 2027-28, when he has a $37.2 million player option) and recent production (11.1 points this season) mean he's unlikely to fetch Boston a first-round pick.
Getting out of his deal may be reason enough for a trade, and the Los Angeles Clippers are one team that justify taking it on.
L.A. pushed the Denver Nuggets to seven games in the first round. The Nuggets, in turn, were the only team that meaningfully challenged the Oklahoma City Thunder this postseason. It may take some roundabout logic, but that series of events suggests the Kawhi Leonard- and James Harden-led Clippers are closer to contention than their first-round exit suggests.
And replacing Norman Powell and Kris Dunn in the rotation with Holiday's defense and championship experience makes some sense.
Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets
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Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, a 2028 first-round pick swap and a 2031 first-round pick for Nicolas Claxton
The Lakers adding a starting-caliber center might be the single most obvious move on the board for this summer. And because L.A. didn't have to pay anywhere near Luka's full value to acquire him, they have plenty of trade fodder to land a big man.
This one sends the Nets salary-matching contracts, including one (Rui Hachimura's) that could be flipped to a contender for more assets, a first-round pick swap and a first-round pick. That's solid value for a 26-year-old center who's struggled to produce at the same level he did when he was surrounded by stars.
With the Lakers, Claxton could get back to the volume of rim-running and rim-protecting he did in 2022-23, when he averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, shot a league-leading 70.5 percent from the field and finished top-10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat
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Ja Morant for Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jović, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick swap
Ja Morant trade chatter is barely at a whisper right now, but he's been far from a model of reliability for the Memphis Grizzlies, both in terms of physical availability and off-court issues. And the Morant-Desmond Bane-Jaren Jackson Jr. core has been together for longer than you might realize.
Those three have been teammates since the start of the 2020-21 campaign. And in those five years, they've missed the playoffs once and made it past the first round once.
In other words, the front office could justify a shakeup, and the Miami Heat can offer an intriguing package.
This deal gives the Grizzlies a wing in Andrew Wiggins who could either be a nice complementary player to Bane and JJJ or flipped for something else later. His $28.2 million salary for 2025-26 is movable. It also includes a pick and a pick swap for a player whose value is far from its peak. But most importantly, there's a lot of young talent and versatility here.
The Heat's side of the deal is a little easier to sell, even if it comes with a fair bit of risk. This is a lot to give up for a diminutive guard who's struggled to stay on the floor throughout his career, but Morant also has superstar upside. And this season made it clear that a top duo of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro isn't good enough for meaningful title contention.
Sliding those two back into more appropriate roles as second and third options would help them. And as two members of a big three, they can offer plenty of support to Ja.
Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns
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Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, Luka Garza and a 2032 first-round pick swap for Kevin Durant
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Minnesota Timberwolves were "serious" about trying to trade for Kevin Durant at this past season's trade deadline. And after their five-game dispatching by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference finals, they may want to revisit that idea this summer.
It's tough to make the money work, since both of these teams have such expensive rosters. The Phoenix Suns being over the second apron means they can't aggregate outgoing salaries in trades, either.
But this framework gives Phoenix an interesting restart around Devin Booker. Gobert would undoubtedly be the best defensive center he's ever played with. And though Conley's production fell off a cliff this postseason, his steady hand guiding the offense would make life easier for Booker, too.
As a bonus, the Suns also get a solid potential backup center in Luka Garza, a prospect in Rob Dillingham and the chance to move up a in a future draft.
For the Timberwolves, this is a lot to give up for a soon-to-be-37-year-old forward with a robust injury history. It's also a culture-shifting move that could make the defense implode.
But a lineup of Donte DiVincenzo, Anthony Edwards, Durant, Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle would boast tons of firepower. And Minnesota was woefully short on that against OKC.
New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns
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Karl-Anthony Towns, Pacôme Dadiet and a 2032 first-round pick for Kevin Durant
The New York Knicks already fired Tom Thibodeau after losing in the conference finals, but if they're looking for another scapegoat, Karl-Anthony Towns has certainly gotten plenty of heat around the internet the last couple days.
A sizable and vocal contingent of Knicks fans probably wouldn't be too upset to see him moved, especially if it was for KD's expiring contract.
Part of the frustration with KAT is a contract that runs through 2027-28 and pays him $61 million that year (when he has a player option). This trade would obviously get the Knicks off the hook for most of that deal, while also landing them a bit more dynamic shot creator who's more mobile on defense.
For the Suns, this is another interesting guard-big duo for Booker, especially since he and KAT are famously close friends. Getting a pick and a prospect doesn't hurt either.
Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns
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Paul George, the No. 3 pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick and a 2032 first-round pick swap for Devin Booker
The Philadelphia 76ers jumping up to the third spot in the lottery makes them one of the more interest trade candidates this summer, especially since Paul George's first season there was such a disaster.
Adding that pick to two more firsts and a far-future pick swap would give the Suns a good batch of draft assets to tip off a rebuild. And trading George somewhere down the line for more assets wouldn't be out of the question either.
On the Sixers' side of the deal, this is a lot of capital to give up, but it certainly opens their window for contention a bit wider. If they could have an upright Joel Embiid for a playoff run with Booker and Tyrese Maxey, they could join the Thunder and Pacers in the trend of teams that recently traded Paul George and made the Finals shortly thereafter.
Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks
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Deandre Ayton, Matisse Thybulle, the No. 11 pick and a 2032 first-round pick swap for Karl-Anthony Towns
This is another KAT deal that would give the Knicks a lot more short-term flexibility. Like KD, Deandre Ayton is on an expiring contract.
And though his career has been a little underwhelming for a former No. 1 pick, he's averaged a double-double in every season he's been in the league, is a more mobile defender than Towns and would still be a decent finisher for Brunson.
Getting another rangy wing defender in Matisse Thybulle to join Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, a lottery pick this summer and a future pick swap would be a nice bonus.
Selling this from the Portland Trail Blazers' perspective has everything to do with the team appearing ahead of schedule toward the end of 2024-25.
Anfernee Simons, Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija look ready to push for a playoff spot now, and Towns would help them do that. His outside shooting would widen slashing lanes for all of the above.
And Portland has a defensive culture strong enough to cover for some of Towns' weaknesses there.
Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Hornets
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DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, a 2027 first-round pick and a top-five protected 2029 first-round pick for LaMelo Ball
After trading away two All-Star point guards and inexplicably reassembling some version of the DeMar DeRozan-Zach LaVine Bulls in recent years, the Sacramento Kings are another interesting potential landing spot for LaMelo.
His playmaking and volume shooting would take a lot of pressure off Domantas Sabonis, while also clearing up the paint a bit for his post work.
As for the Hornets, this move is all about the draft capital. Given his recent track record with injuries, getting multiple firsts for Ball is a win. And though DeRozan and Malik Monk's contracts both last beyond this coming season, they're good enough for Charlotte to flip for more assets in separate deals.
San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks
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Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Stephon Castle, the No. 2 pick, a 2027 first-round pick (via Atlanta) and a 2029 first-round pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo
If the San Antonio Spurs want to get into the mix for Giannis, they can offer a variety of trade packages that would probably top most other teams' best shots.
This one gives the Bucks Harrison Barnes' moveable contract, an interesting young-ish wing making under $20 million a year in Keldon Johnson, the reigning Rookie of the Year (Stephon Castle), this summer's No. 2 pick and two more firsts, to boot.
Milwaukee would instantly go from totally stuck to on its way toward a meaningful rebuild. And with two top-flight prospects (Castle and potentially Dylan Harper) already in place.
The Spurs, meanwhile, would suddenly have one of the biggest and most talented frontcourts in league history with Giannis and Victor Wembanyama. And their games would complement each other brilliantly.
Wemby can space the floor from the 5 spot, pulling opposing bigs away from the rim, while Giannis would exploit that extra space with his downhill attacking.
With those two, De'Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio would immediately have a title-contending starting five with shooting, slashing and defensive versatility.
Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks
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Scottie Barnes, Ochai Agbaji, Ja'Kobe Walter, the No. 9 pick, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 first-round pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Here's one more Giannis possibility before we wrap things up.
There is reportedly some "mutual interest" between him and the Toronto Raptors. And though some of that may be predicated on the idea of Giannis and 2021-22 Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes playing together, there may be too much skill-set overlap between those two. Toronto beating some of the other potential Giannis offers around the league might require them to include Barnes, too.
So, that's exactly what this deal does. Barnes would give Milwaukee a new potential star to build around, a couple more young players and multiple picks.
For the Raptors, the resulting team isn't quite as exciting as Giannis with the Spurs, but simply having him on the roster would obviously push Toronto much closer to contention.
In a down year for the East, with Tatum recovering from his torn Achilles, a roster with Giannis, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl could be a sneaky conference finals contender.
Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs
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Lauri Markkanen for Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, the No. 14 pick, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2032 first-round pick swap
Now three years into the post-Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert rebuild, the Utah Jazz still haven't hit on a single first-round pick, at least not to the degree it looks like any member of their young core will be a sure-fire future star.
That struggle crystallized on lottery night last month, when Utah, despite an aggressive tank job throughout 2024-25, fell four spots and wound up with the No. 5 pick in a draft that appears to have one of those sure-fire future stars in Cooper Flagg.
The Jazz can react to that misfortune in a few ways. They could just sort of push on organically, hope one of their recent first-rounders takes a leap and get more competitive in a few years. They could trade some of those players and some future picks to add a win-now player to Lauri Markkanen. Or, they could double down on the tank, trade Markkanen and try the lottery again next year.
This move obviously leans into that final approach, though it also gives the Jazz a another forward in Devin Vassell who could potentially be flipped for more assets down the road.
Getting him multiple first-round picks is a decent haul for Markkanen.
For the Spurs, this is a heck of a fallback if they aren't able to land Giannis. Markkanen's finishing ability, both as an outside shooter and dunker, would draw tons of attention from Victor Wembanyama.
Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings
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Marcus Smart for DeMar DeRozan and a 2026 second-round pick (via Charlotte)
This is a less dramatic (and less costly) way for the Kings to address their need at point guard.
And while injuries have limited Marcus Smart to just 54 games over the last two seasons, he might be exactly the kind of point guard a team with LaVine and Sabonis would need.
He's a plus defender and an underrated playmaker, but he doesn't require a ton of touches or possessions to be effective. That would allow Sabonis and LaVine to continue to control the offense.
For Washington, turning the oft-injured Smart into a second-rounder is a fine bit of business. And if DeRozan were to show enough life on the rebuilding Washington Wizards, they might be able to flip him for another asset later.
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